Vlad and the lads relish the challenge of rare visit to Dodger Stadium

LOS ANGELES — They may not yet be ready for star billing in nearby Hollywood, but a visit to Dodger Stadium certainly provides the latest opportunity for the young Blue Jays to put on a show.

And perhaps play tourist to one of the great experiences in the game.

There is Chavez Ravine, as fine a setting as there is in the big leagues and a place the team is visiting for the first time since 2007.

There is the historic team on the other side playing in an historic ballpark that is almost always a full house or close to it.

And most importantly, in the three-game set which began here on Tuesday, the junior Jays were facing starting rotation that may be the best in baseball for a Dodgers team that began Tuesday’s action with the best record in the major leagues.

Certainly Vlad Guerrero Jr., who has been on fire since the all star break, was looking forward to facing future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw in the opener. Guerrero, who tweaked his knee on Saturday back in Toronto on the weekend, ran the bases and took some fielding drills early in the afternoon and was given the green light to return.

And while Vlad Jr. tries not to be blinded by the bigger lights in the league, as he showed in the home run Derby last month, the big lad acknowledged facing Tuesday’s starter would carry a little something extra.

“It’s exciting to be here and facing (Kershaw),” Guerrero said. “For me, all the pitchers in the big leagues are good, I mean they’re in the big leagues. But in his case when I was in the minors I watched him a lot on TV and I got it in my mind that one day I wanted to face him and finally the day is today.”

Though he had an MRI on Sunday after the awkward defensive play the previous day, Guerrero said he was never worried about missing sustained time. In fact, the 20-year-old said his body has held up well through the grind of what will be the longest season of his young pro career. As always, he’s hoping to finish up strong.

“Definitely I feel good,” said Guerrero, adding that there was just some mile inflammation in his knee. “I know it’s been a long season, but I’m healthy I’m just going to continue to come here every day and work hard.

“It’s the same thing for me and I’m sure for all the rest of the guys We’re going to work hard and compete and try to beat whoever it is we are facing.”

Guerrero, of course, has been on enough of a tear to put himself in the AL rookie of the year conversation. Over his previous 26 games, Vlad is hitting .364 with nine doubles, six homers and 28 RBI.

Meanwhile, manager Charlie Montoyo figures Guerrero and his young lineup will benefit from some of the big remaining dates on the schedule including three against the Dodgers, four against the Braves, plus series against the Yankees and Astros.

“It’s going to be big for all of our young guys, honestly,” Montoyo said. “It’s going to be a pretty good test this whole month. It’s a pretty good test and it’s going to be good for the kids.

“It’s going to be fun to see how it goes.”

As we’ve seen through much of the hot play of late, the young Jays haven’t blinked often, even against good teams. There have been some rough patches, but the learning curve has been impressive, including Bo Bichette, opening Tuesday’s game with his sixth homer of the season.

“It’s pretty cool, I’m not going to lie,” second baseman Cavan Biggio said. “Facing Kershaw is obviously an exciting thing too, but I’m not going to change my approach whether it’s a guy like him, whose going to be in the hall of fame, or someone else.”

ON THE ROTATION While the Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has the luxury of trotting out Kershaw (12-2 and a 2.63 ERA), Walker Buehler (10-3, 3.31) and Kenta Maeda (8-8, 4.18), his Toronto counterpart has openers, bullpen days and TBDs.

On paper, it adds up to as stark a pitching matchup as one could imagine.

For the series opener, the Jays countered Kershaw with Buddy Boshers (he of the 0-2 record and 8.10 ERA) as an opener for the erratic Sean-Reid Foley. Wednesday will be a bullpen day with Wilmer Font leading off and Friday Jacob Waguespack gets the nod.

AAA RATING FOR BIG NATE The much-anticipated triple-A debut for the Jays top pitching prospect, Nate Pearson, was a smashing one on Tuesday night.

The big right-hander pitched a career-high seven innings for the Buffalo Bisons, allowing three hits and no runs in a 4-1 loss at Rochester.

Pearson threw 88 pitches (55 for strikes) in his impressive graduation from double A New Hampshire, accomplished on his 23rd birthday.

It’s been a brilliant season thus far for the Florida native, who began by going 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA over six starts in single A Dunedin. Pearson then posted a 2.59 ERA in 16 starts with the Fisher Cats.

AROUND THE BASES The Jays sent left-hander Thomas Pannone back to Buffalo prior to Tuesday’s game and recalled Richard Urena, essentially as insurance in the event Guerrero wasn’t good to go.

It’s been a while. The Jays made their first visit to Dodger Stadium since 2007, when the late

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Vlad and the lads relish the challenge of rare visit to Dodger Stadium